Posts Tagged Commander-In-Chief

Mayor Daley Hails the Chiefs–”Presidents, Past and Present” in the February issue of Michigan Avenue Magazine–”the most important President’s Day in our city’s history”

In the February issue of Michigan Avenue Magazine, Mayor Daley shares his thoughts on “Presidents, Past and Present.”

This is most fitting in a week when we at Eli’s prepare for our trip on Thursday to Springfield to present the Birthday Cakes that we have created for the two birthday celebrations for Lincoln; the 1860’s Period Ball at the Abraham Lincoln Museum and the Gala that will feature the attendance of our 44th President.

In Mayor Daley’s piece, he notes that this is the “most important President’s Day in our city’s history” because of Obama being the first Chicagoan to serve as President.

Mayor Daley continues that Lincoln said “a man should be proud of the city in which he lives, and that he should so live that his city will be proud that he lives in it.”

How wonderful that Eli’s Cheesecake, a family business of Chicagoans, can bring these Great Cakes to Springfield to honor our 16th President in the presence of our fellow Chicagoan, and 44th President, Barack Obama.

CAMPELL BROWN:
One of the Obamas’ first stops tonight is at the national building home of the commander in chief ball. Vice president and Mrs. Biden are expected there in just a few moments. Our Randi Kaye is there already.

Randi, this is really the most formal event of the night, isn’t it?

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It absolutely is, Campbell. It’s a wonderful event. It started back in 2005. It was started by President Bush and it’s really to honor the members of the armed services, the military troops, the spouses of deployed soldiers are here, the spouses of former soldiers are here. It’s a free ball for the military troops. About 2,000 troops are expected here. President Obama is expected to speak here just before 10:00 tonight and that will actually be broadcast on the Pentagon channel to all of the military bases overseas.

Now, I did speak to some of the family members here. About 300 family members, Campbell, who are at this event tonight, have lost loved ones. And even given that, there is a great sense of hope here, which is truly remarkable. There’s a hope, there’s camaraderie among this group. It’s really a special night for the troops and their spouses, because they don’t often get a date night. So this is a really big deal for them.

They’re honored to be here. Many of them told me they’re very excited about their new commander in chief. They think he’s a great innovator. They need more attention focused on them and they think he’s going to deliver.

And the most important thing one told me was that it feels like Veterans Day. This is what Veterans Day should feel like, he said. This is why they serve, they serve for the freedom to vote, and that’s what they did.

Campbell?

BROWN: Randi, I hear there’s quite a special treat at the ball tonight. What’s it all about?

KAYE: Actually, it’s coming all the way from Obama’s home state of Illinois. It’s a giant cheesecake from Eli’s Cheesecake, which is a great dessert maker there. 500-pound cheesecake, Campbell, it’s three tiers, red, white, and blue with a chocolate inaugural seal on it. It was going to be filled with apples, because Lincoln — Abraham Lincoln was a big fan of apples, and as you know, there’s been a real Lincoln theme in Obama’s inauguration. So it will be filled with apples. And just to give you an idea, 100 pounds of cream cheese is what it took to make that cheesecake.

Campbell?

BROWN: OK. Sounds fabulous. Randi Kaye for us tonight. We’ll be checking in with you again a little bit later.

Jan. 14: Eli’s Cheesecake Company from Chicago has donated a 500 pound cheesecake that will serve over to 3,000 servicemen and women as well as their families at the Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball next week. Chris Matthews talks more about the cake in the Hardball Big Number.

Eli’s Cheesecake selected to create Inaugural Cheesecake for Commander-In-Chief Ball in Washington DC on January 20th

Bill Zwecker

At ball, a taste of Chicago

January 13, 2009

Marc Schulman and his Eli’s Cheesecake are making a 500-pound inauguration cheesecake for the commander in chief’s inaugural ball honoring Barack Obama Jan. 20 at the National Building Museum in Washington.

The top layer will feature the inaugural seal (in chocolate). The middle layer will be apple-flavored — a tribute to the favorite fruit of Abraham Lincoln and all the homages to our 16th president planned for Obama’s inauguration. That layer also will feature the seals of all five branches of the U.S. armed forces.

The cake’s base will be royal blue and decorated with a wave of red and white stripes and white and gold stars.